{"product_id":"an-introduction-to-ministry-isbn-9780470673294","title":"An Introduction to Ministry","description":"\u003ci\u003eAn Introduction to Ministry\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive and ecumenical introduction to the craft of ministry for ministers, pastors, and priests that make up the mainline denominations in the United States. Ecumenically-focused, It offers a grounded account of ministry, covering  areas such as vocation, congregational leadership, and cultivation of skills for an effective ministry.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eCovers the key components of the M.Div. curriculum, offering a map and guide to the central skills and issues in training\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplores the areas of vocation, skills for ministry, and issues around congregational leadership\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eEach topic ends with an annotated bibliography providing an indispensable gateway to further study\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHelps students understand both the distinctive approach of their denomination and the relationship of that approach to other mainline denominations\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eAdvocates and defends a generous understanding of the Christian tradition in its openness and commitment to broad conversation\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e Acknowledgments ix \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSection One Exploring the World of Ministry 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 Sensing the Call 7\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 The Imperative of Training 19\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Church Dynamics: Exploring Congregational Culture 30\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSection Two Cultivating the Skills for Effective Ministry 45\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 Worship and Mainline Ritual 47\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Reading Scripture Thoughtfully 58\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Connecting the Theological Dots 68\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Church History 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 Preaching the Word 92\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 Ethics in the Mainline 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 Pastoral Presence 122\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Christian Education and Formation 135\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 Music and Hymnody 150\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSection Three Leading the People of God 167\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 Prophetic Leadership and Social Justice 169\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 Evangelism and Church Growth 182\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 Leading through Change and Conflict 198\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 The Business of the Church 210\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 Stewardship 225\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 Christian Apologetics 237\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 Ministerial Integrity 253\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlossary 263\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 277\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIan S. Markham\u003c\/b\u003e is Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. He has been in ministry all his life and is active as a Priest Associate at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including \u003ci\u003eTruth and the Reality of God\u003c\/i\u003e (2000); \u003ci\u003eA Theology of Engagement\u003c\/i\u003e (Wiley-Blackwell, 2003); \u003ci\u003eDo Morals Matter\u003c\/i\u003e (Wiley-Blackwell, 2006); \u003ci\u003eUnderstanding Christian Doctrine\u003c\/i\u003e (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), \u003ci\u003eLiturgical Life Principles\u003c\/i\u003e (2009), and \u003ci\u003eAgainst Atheism\u003c\/i\u003e (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOran E. Warder\u003c\/b\u003e is Rector of St. Paul's Church in Alexandria, Virginia. An experienced parish priest, Oran also served for seven years as the Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Delaware. Among other things, this diocesan role included the care, support, and deployment of clergy; the care, support, and development of congregations, including the mediation of conflict; as well as the oversight of an array of diocesan programs and institutions. In addition to serving as rector of St. Paul's, Oran is also an adjunct instructor of liturgics at the Virginia Theological Seminary.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Ministry Textbook\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive guide to ministry for seminarians, ministers, pastors, and priests that make up the mainline denominations in the United States. Written by two highly experienced authors, the book provides a grounded account of ministry, aimed at a renewal of leadership and congregational life, and drawing particularly on the Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, and Presbyterian traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTouching on all the main components of the Master of Divinity curriculum, this inclusive guide is divided into three sections. The first unit explores the world of vocation and the challenge of serving in a leadership role in a congregation. The second discusses the skills necessary for an effective ministry, and the final section examines the issues of congregational leadership. Drawing on the growing consensus in Congregational Studies literature, this section looks at church growth, church administration, and congregational vitality. Each chapter provides a helpful overview of the topic and ends with an annotated bibliography offering an indispensable gateway to further study.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis invaluable text provides seminarians, individuals considering ministry, and those with limited access to formal training with an ecumenical introduction to ministry and church leadership. It also supports the work of those responsible for teaching in the various denominations throughout the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis really is an “introduction to ministry.”  Everything is in here and it is well-organized and well-said.  This will become a standard for those considering professional ministry and others who want to understand the pastorate.  Markham and Warder have point of view, but it is gentle and apparent and appreciative of ministry in diversity and complexity. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid McAllister-Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarkham and Warder have boldly gone where no-one has quite gone before; writing a genuine introduction to ministry itself, not just pastoral care or liturgy or management, but about the extraordinary, messy and wonderful whole. This introduction is full of insight and wisdom.  While it does not answer every question, it answers many of them, and it will provoke better questions and richer answers than readers might otherwise have obtained. It is also written from a fundamentally optimistic viewpoint, and gives a hopeful and faithful picture of how the “mainline” can not only survive but flourish amid changing realities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew McGowen, Yale Divinity School\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47988727447781,"sku":"NP9780470673294","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780470673294.jpg?v=1761781352","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/an-introduction-to-ministry-isbn-9780470673294","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}